Gun with electrically fired cartridge

ABSTRACT

A gun is provided with an electronically fired cartridge. The cartridge includes a primer cap with a heat sensitive primer therein. A fuse wire of appropriate electrical resistance extends through the primer, and a pair of contacts are affixed with a gun to provide a voltage to the fuse wire in order to cause a flow of current through the fuse wire to ignite the primer. An electric circuit is provided on the gun body for supplying electric power to the contacts. The circuit includes a switch, a battery, and first and second contacts which are in electrical communication with the fuse wire when the cartridge is in the gun.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to firearms, and more particularly tofirearms with electronically fired cartridges.

BACKGROUND ART

Recently, a need has developed to "personalize" guns in order to allowonly a single user for a gun, to prevent the use of a firearm by anassailant against its owner, and to prevent accidental shootings bychildren. "Personalization" of guns may also be used to placeresponsibility for causing injury or death entirely upon the owner ofthe weapon. In order to accomplish this weapon personalization, it isdesirable to provide a firing mechanism which is completely electronic.The electronic firing mechanism would also facilitate the design of apersonalized firearm which is tamper-resistant.

Traditionally, percussion type primers are used in gun cartridges incombination with a hammer to ignite gunpowder in order to fire bullets.Currently no electronically fired primer designs exist which arefeasible for manufacturing, or for use in combination with a gunpersonalization system. Accordingly, it is desirable to provide a gunwhich fires cartridges fully electronically.

It is particularly desirable to provide a design for electricallydischarging gun cartridges which would be adaptable for use withexisting gun cartridges whiteout significantly altering the existingcartridge design.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a gun with an electronically firedcartridge. The cartridge includes a primer cap with heat sensitiveprimer therein. A fuse wire of appropriate electrical resistance extendsthrough the primer. A pair of contacts fixed with the gun provide avoltage to the fuse wire in order to ignite the primer and fire thebullet.

The present invention provides a gun and cartridge assembly comprising agun body including a barrel. A removable cartridge is received withinthe barrel. The cartridge includes a chamber with an explosive and aprimer cap with a heat sensitive primer therein ignitable for ignitingsaid explosive. A fuse wire of appropriate electrical resistance havingfirst and second ends extends through the primer for igniting theprimer. An electric circuit is secured to the gun body for supplyingelectric current to the fuse wire. The circuit comprises a switch foropening and closing the circuit. The switch is in electricalcommunication with one of the first and second ends of the fuse wire. Abattery includes first and second terminals, and one of the terminals isin electrical communication with the switch. A first contact is inelectrical communication with the other of the terminals and further inelectrical communication with the other of the first and second ends ofthe fuse wire. Electric current traveling through the fuse wire willignite the heat sensitive primer when the switch closes the circuit. Anelectronic circuit board is provided in electrical communication withthe switch for closing the switch when a signal is received from the guntrigger.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a gun withan electronically fired cartridge which is feasible for high volumemanufacturing.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a gun with anelectronically fired cartridge which is reliable and includes a rapidlyigniting primer.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide an apparatusfor electrically discharging gun cartridges which is compatible withexisting gun cartridge designs.

The above objects and other objects, features and advantages of thepresent invention are readily apparent from the following detaileddescription of the best mode for carrying out the invention when takenin connection with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a schematically arranged, partially cutaway side view of agun with an electronically fired cartridge in accordance with thepresent invention; and

FIG. 2 shows a schematically arranged enlarged sectional view of anelectronic circuit and primer cap for an electronically fired guncartridge in accordance with the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

FIGS. 1 and 2 show an electronically discharged gun and cartridgeassembly 10 in accordance with the present invention. The gun andcartridge assembly 10 includes a gun body 12 and a gun cartridge 14. Thecartridge 14 is received within a barrel 16 formed in the gun body 12. Atrigger 18 is pivotally mounted to the gun body 12 for actuatingignition of the gun cartridge 14.

An electronic circuit board 20 is provided for controlling discharge ofthe gun cartridge. The circuit board 20 may be used in combination witha gun personalization system. The electronic circuit board 20communicates with an electric circuit 24 (shown schematically in FIG. 2)for firing the cartridge.

FIG. 2 shows a schematically arranged enlarged sectional view of anelectronic circuit 24 for the electronically fired cartridge 14. Thecartridge 14 includes a metal butt 26 and a metal primer cap 28. Thecartridge 14 includes gunpowder 30 therein for firing a bullet. Thegunpowder 30 is ignited by the heat sensitive primer 32 which isdisposed within the primer cap 28.

A fuse wire 34 having first and second ends 36,38 extends through theheat sensitive primer 32 for igniting the primer when a voltage ispresent between the first and second ends 36, 38.

A voltage is provided to the first and second ends 36,38 of the fusewire 34 by means of the electric circuit 24. The electric circuit 24comprises first and second contacts 40, 42, which are in electricalcommunication with the wire 34. The first contact 40 is positionedadjacent the center of the cartridge butt 26. The first contact 40 is inelectrical communication with the first end 36 of the fuse wire 34, andinsulation 44 is provided to insulate the contact from the rest of thecartridge 14 so that an electric current can be set up through the fusewire 34 to heat up the primer rapidly and set it off. The second end 38of the fuse wire 34 is in electrical communication with the metal primercap 28, which, in turn, is in electrical communication with the secondcontact 42. The second contact 42 includes insulation 46, and is inelectrical communication with the switch 48. The switch 48 is inelectrical communication with the battery 50, which is also inelectrical communication with the first contact 40.

Accordingly, when the trigger 18 is pulled, and the electronic circuitboard 20 closes the switch 48, the circuit 24 is closed. At this point,a voltage from the terminals 52,54 of the battery 50 is set up betweenthe first and second contacts 40,42. With the cartridge 14 in position,the voltage set up across the first and second contacts 40,42 causes acurrent to travel through the fuse wire 34. Since the first contact 40is in electrical communication with the first end 36 of the fuse wire34, and the second contact 42 is in electrical communication with themetal butt 26, metal primer cap 28, and second end 38 of the fuse wire34, a circuit is established through which current can flow. The fusewire 34 then heats up, and ignites the heat sensitive primer 32, whichignites the gunpowder 30 in order to fire a bullet. Apertures 56, 58,60, 62 are provided in the primer cap 28 to communicate the primer 32with the gun powder 30 so that the primer 32 may ignite the gun powder30.

Of course, varying configurations may be used for applying a voltage tothe fuse wire. First and second contacts 40, 42 may be placed indifferent positions on the butt 26 and primer cap 28.

In manufacturing the electrically discharged cartridge, a shortinsulated wire will be inserted into the center of the cap 28. One endof the fuse wire will be soldered to the insulated wire (the first endof the fuse wire), and the other end of the fuse wire will be solderedto the primer cap 28 (the second end of the fuse wire). The primercompound 32 is then poured or molded around the fuse 34 without damagingthe circuitry. Accordingly, in comparison to current manufacturingprocesses for cartridges, the only major difference for use with thepresent invention is the manufacture of the primer cap. Because theprimer cap will have the same size and location on the cartridge 14,manufacturing and overall design of cartridges will not be adverselyeffected.

If a non-metallic primer cap is used, the second contact 42 and secondend 38 of the fuse 34 must be positioned so that contact will occurbetween the two for electrical communication to occur.

While the best mode for carrying out the invention has been described indetail, those familiar with the art to which this invention relates willrecognize various alternative designs and embodiments for practicing theinvention. Thus, the above described preferred embodiment is intended tobe illustrative of the invention which may be modified within the scopeof the following appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A gun and cartridge assembly, comprising:a gunbody, including a barrel; a removable cartridge received within thebarrel, the cartridge including a chamber with an explosive and a primercap with a heat sensitive primer therein ignitable for igniting saidexplosive, and an electrically resistant fuse wire having first andsecond ends and contained within the primer cap for igniting the primer,wherein the primer cap is in contact with the explosive and includesapertures formed therethrough to facilitate ignition of the explosive;and an electric circuit in the gun body for providing electric currentto the fuse wire, the circuit comprising:a switch positionable foropening and closing the circuit, the switch being in electricalcommunication with one of said first and second ends of the fuse wire;an electrical power source including first and second terminals, one ofsaid terminals being in electrical communication with the switch; and afirst contact in electrical communication with the other of saidterminals and further in electrical communication with the other of saidfirst and second ends of the fuse wire; whereby electric power travelingthrough the fuse wire will ignite the heat sensitive primer when saidswitch is positioned in one of said opening and closing positions. 2.The gun and cartridge assembly of claim 1, wherein said primer capincluding a metal casing, and said second end of said fuse wire being inelectrical communication with said metal casing.
 3. The gun andcartridge assembly of claim 2, wherein said cartridge further comprisinga metal butt in electrical communication with said metal casing.
 4. Thegun and cartridge assembly of claim 3, further comprising a secondcontact in electrical communication between said switch and one of saidmetal butt and metal casing.
 5. The gun and cartridge assembly of claim4, further comprising an insulating barrier between said first end ofsaid fuse wire and said metal casing.
 6. The gun and cartridge assemblyof claim 1, further comprising an electronic circuit board in electricalcommunication with said switch for opening and closing the switch.
 7. Agun and cartridge assembly comprising:a gun body, including a barrel; aremovable cartridge received within the barrel, the cartridge includinga chamber with an explosive and a primer cap with a heat sensitiveprimer therein ignitable for igniting said explosive, and anelectrically resistant fuse wire having first and second ends andcontained within the primer cap for igniting the primer, wherein theprimer cap is in contact with the explosive and includes aperturesformed therethrough to facilitate ignition of the explosive; and anelectric circuit in the gun body for providing electric current to thefuse wire, the circuit comprising:a switch for opening and closing thecircuit, the switch being in electrical communication with one of saidfirst and second ends of the fuse wire; a battery including first andsecond terminals, one of said terminals being in electricalcommunication with the switch; a first contact in electricalcommunication with the other of said terminals and further in electricalcommunication with the other of said first and second ends of the fusewire; and an electronic circuit board in electrical communication withsaid switch for opening and closing the switch; whereby electric powertraveling through the high resistance wire will ignite the heatsensitive primer when said switch is positioned in one of said openingand closing positions.
 8. The gun and cartridge assembly of claim 7,wherein said primer cap including a metal casing, and said second end ofsaid fuse wire being in electrical communication with said metal casing.9. The gun and cartridge assembly of claim 8, wherein said cartridgefurther comprising a metal butt in electrical communication with saidmetal casing.
 10. The gun and cartridge assembly of claim 9, furthercomprising a second contact in electrical communication between saidswitch and one of said metal butt and metal casing.
 11. The gun andcartridge assembly of claim 10, further comprising an insulating barrierbetween said first end of said fuse wire and said metal casing.
 12. Foruse in a gun, an electrically fired gun cartridge, comprising:agenerally cylindrical chamber with an explosive therein; an electricallyconductive primer cap within the chamber, the primer cap having a heatsensitive primer therein ignitable for igniting the explosive; and anelectrically resistant fuse wire contained within the primer cap forigniting the primer, the fuse wire having first and second ends forreceiving electric power from the gun, said first end being positionedto receive electric power from the gun when the cartridge is in the gun,and said second end being in electrical communication with the primercap to receive electric power therethrough, wherein the primer cap is incontact with the explosive and includes apertures formed therethrough tofacilitate ignition of the explosive; whereby electric power receivedfrom the gun travels through the fuse wire, which gives off heat toignite the primer.